In the latest development of Belgium's handling of the coronavirus crisis, it turns out that the free face masks that were distributed by the government last summer are possibly toxic.
A confidential report from Belgium's Institute for Public Health, Sciensano, showed that the face masks were manufactured in Asia by the Luxembourg-based company Avrox, and may contain nanoparticles of silver and titanium dioxide that when inhaled could damage the respiratory tract.
While yesterday, Sciensano stated that it is too early to draw conclusions, Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke has now asked pharmacists to stop using and distributing them “pending further investigation."
“Although no health risk has been demonstrated, we recommend that anyone who received such a mask at the time for free through the pharmacy should not use it for the time being, as a precaution,” Vandenbroucke said.
The Superior Health Council also said that the use of the fabric masks provided is not recommended unless they are the “only available means of prevention.”
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Belgium’s Consultative Committee will meet again on Friday to discuss possible changes to the measures, even though the country’s coronavirus figures do not allow for many relaxations.
During an unexpected press conference earlier this week, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo repeatedly made it clear that no great relaxations of the measures should be expected on Friday. Despite his warnings, however, several topics are expected to be discussed. Read More.
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In the report, the experts state that they do not see any possibility of relaxing some measures at the Consultative Committee on Friday, not even the expansion of the social bubbles for outdoor activities. Read more.
3. Belgian government says to stop wearing the free cloth masks it distributed
The Belgian government has told people to stop wearing the cloth masks they distributed for free last summer “as a precaution” following the leak of a confidential report from Sciensano, the Belgian Institute for Public Health, that said they may be toxic.
The report, which the government stressed is only the first results of the first phase of a study, found that the masks contain nanoparticles of silver and titanium dioxide that when inhaled could damage the respiratory tract. Read More.
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The majority parties in the Brussels Regional parliament want to partially open up the Royal Domain in Laeken – which is maintained with taxpayers’ money – to the public, to accommodate Brussels inhabitants’ growing need for more accessible green space.
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7. Belgium’s stint of spring weather to end
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Maïthé Chini
The Brussels Times
